The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting Sobriety Roadside Safety Checkpoints starting on June 1, 2020 through June 6, 2020, on State Route 136 in White County.

Impaired driving is a serious crime that kills more than 16,000 people and injures 305,000 others every year in the United States. Troopers will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. Troopers will target those who operate a vehicle while impaired and take corrective actions for other violations observed while ensuring the protection of all motorists.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol recognizes that sobriety checkpoints are highly visible and effective tools in the battle against impaired driving.

Darrell Ray “Big Cool” Gunter, 67 passed away May 29, 2020, at his residence, in Sparta, surrounded by his family

Mr. Gunter was born Aug. 11, 1952, in Woodbury, to Doyle and Kathleen Gunter.

He married the love of this life, Connie Gail Gunter, on Sept. 12, 1979. Mr. Gunter was blessed with three daughters and a son. He was a proud and supportive son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great- grandfather. Anyone who had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gunter knows his joy and laughter were contagious. He had a kind and loving soul that he shared with everyone he met. Mr. Gunter enjoyed fishing, tinkering, and … CONTINUED

BOnce upon a time, every student of history – and that meant pretty much everyone with a high school education – knew this: The Democratic Party was the party of slavery and Jim Crow, and the Republican Party was the party of emancipation and racial integration.

Democrats were the Confederacy and Republicans were the Union. Jim Crow Democrats were dominant in the South and socially tolerant Republicans were dominant in the North.

But then, in the 1960s and 70s, everything supposedly flipped: suddenly the Republicans became the racists and the Democrats became the champions of civil rights.

Micah made his bold and resolute proclamation at the dinner table stating, “Dad, I would like to ride my bike without training wheels tonight.”

Children often look forward to the next rite of passage; that moment that marks a transition from one stage of life to the next. It could be getting to start kindergarten, putting on makeup for the first time, receiving a first cell phone, going on a first date, or taking that driver’s test. The striking way my 5-year-old distinctly made his proclamation let me know this rite of passage needed my full attention, and it needed to happen soon. Around the … CONTINUED

Some children seem to be born with a good sense of direction. Our son, for example, could give directions from the church to our home – almost two miles away with lots of turns – when he was just a toddler. In fact, before he knew his right from his left, he could point which way to turn at every intersection. Our daughters were not quite as savvy as their little brother, but they eventually learned how to get places…especially with the introduction of GPS.

At 9 years old, James David is much better with directions than his mother, our daughter. Ask … CONTINUED

The contract for Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger was renewed for another four-year term, the maximum allowed, at the May 14, 2020, meeting of the White County School Board.

“I am so honored to be able to continue to serve as the director of White County Schools,” Dronebarger said. “I am thankful for the confidence that the school board and the community have shown in me.”

Dronebarger expressed his gratitude at the board’s unanimous approval to extend him the state’s maximum four-year contract. (Board Member Dave McCulley recused himself from discussion and voting in matters regarding the contract as his family ties to Dronebarger provided … CONTINUED

Thanks to a grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, the Sparta-White County Family YMCA will continue to offer free childcare services to an expanded list of frontline workers through mid-August.

“The qualification of a frontline worker is those deemed essential under Gov. Lee’s Executive Order No. 22,” Kyle Goff, CEO at the Sparta-White County Family YMCA said and added that recently more categories were added to the list of workers who could benefit from the program. “These categories have also expanded to workers in the financial and religious fields, as well as food, utility, and hotel industries, and more.”

Soldiers’ names were read while Jessie Buttrum rang a bell once for each name, while Mary Dingwall read part of the names of the World War II veterans. (Photos by RACHEL AUBERGER)

By Rachel Auberger

On Memorial Day, communities across the nation pause to remember, honor, and give thanks for the military men and women who gave their lives for the freedoms that Americans enjoy daily, and Sparta joined those communities on May 25 when they held a small memorial service in the Rotary Club Sparta Veterans Park, on Bockman Way.

After Sherry Hickey, president of the GFWC Sparta Woman’s Club, welcomed the small crowd and Walter Buttrum, American Legion Post #99 chaplain, offered a prayer of thanks, several of the area’s government officials took a moment to address those assembled to honor some of America’s, and more specifically the … CONTINUED

Greg Wilson, of Sparta, has been selected as the new principal at White County High School.

Greg Wilson, of Sparta, has been selected as the new head principal of White County High School. Wilson is a Sparta native and a WCHS alum who has over 20 years of educational experience.

The announcement was made this afternoon by Kurt Dronebarger, director of White County Schools, who said the decision was made after much consideration.

According to Dronebarger, Wilson has an extensive resume, including work in all aspects of a major high school, and he is excited to be coming back to his alma mater. Wilson is currently the vice-principal at Upperman High School, in Baxter. His official start date will be July 1, 2020, but … CONTINUED